Lehigh star Ryan Spadola out for Georgetown game, and possibly much longer

Lehigh's All-American wide receiver Ryan Spadola will miss Saturday's game against Georgetown, and possibly several more games while battling an illness, believed to be mononucleosis.

Mono is commonly described as an infectious disease usually affecting young people, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and characterized by fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. The symptoms may last for several weeks

Lehigh Sports Information Director Steve Lomangino confirmed that Spadola will miss the Georgetown game and could be out "indefinitely."

Lomangino said the team learned of Spadola's illness on Wednesday after Lehigh's weekly media luncheon was held.

He said coach Andy Coen would have more to say on the receiver's prognosis and status after the Georgetown game.

Palisades grad Josh Parris, a sophomore, will replace Spadola in the Lehigh lineup.

Spadola had caught 34 passes this season for 476 yards, helping No. 10 ranked Lehigh get out to a 6-0 start. He caught his first touchdown pass of the season in last week's game against Columbia.

Spadola, a senior, was the Patriot League's preseason offensive player of the year and received a multitude of postseason accolades after the 2011 season and again entering the 2012 campaign.

The Howell, N.J., native has 209 career receptions for 3,236 yards and 21 touchdowns. He set the Patriot League's single-season record with 1,614 receiving yards along with 96 catches and 11 touchdowns in 2011.

The last time Spadola missed a game was the NCAA FCS-level third round playoff game against North Dakota State last December. He was suspended by the NCAA for one game for re-tweeting a comment on the social media Twitter that contained a racial slur.